Cazorla: I was like a little kid when Ozil signed, Suarez is incredible and United loss was just a blip in Arsenal's title charge

Santi Cazorla was like an excited young fan when Arsene Wenger announced to the Arsenal dressing room that he had signed Mesut Ozil.

The Spain international said: ‘I spoke to friends of mine at Madrid who told me that Mesut was talking to Arsenal and that he wanted to leave. You think, “How are Madrid going to let Mesut get away?” He’s one of the best players in the world and the truth is you don’t really believe it.

‘Then one day the manager said to us, “We’ve signed Mesut, he’s going for his medical”.

Kneesy does it: Cazorla after scoring in the 2-0 win against Liverpool at the start of November

‘I was like a little kid. I knew that a great player was coming and that because of the way he plays, he was going to be a perfect fit for us.’

The pair should start against Southampton on Saturday as Arsenal look to stay top. The open title race is also exciting Cazorla.

‘In Spain it’s Madrid and Barcelona miles ahead of the rest, while in England there is Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. There are not many points between us. Southampton are there, too.

‘But a team like City can also go to Sunderland and lose. That’s the strength of the league.’

While English football despairs at a lack of technique at international level, this two-time European Champion revels in the dynamism on show.

‘In England, the first line of pressure is incredible,’ said Cazorla. ‘Everyone comes at you fast, strong and with great intensity. But if you can play two or three quick passes it opens up and you get space in the final third that you just don’t get in Spain.

‘In Spain, against the big teams, everyone waits for you behind the ball. In England no one plays with 10 men behind the ball. That kind of football just doesn’t exist.’

Cazorla believes such dominance puts Real and Barca at a disadvantage in Europe.

International duty: Cazorla playing for Spain in the 1-0 defeat to South Africa in Soweto on Tuesday

‘You watch Barcelona games and they win 4-0 and 5-0 and it’s the same for Madrid. Then a Bayern Munich or a Borussia Dortmund comes along and I think they are perhaps a bit surprised.’

In what could yet turn out to be Arsenal’s crucial Champions League defeat — 2-1 at home by Dortmund — it was centre forward Robert Lewandowski who made the difference. Was the downside of the summer that the Gunners did not sign a striker as well as Ozil?

Cazorla said: ‘Circumstance meant we could not get Luis Suarez. With Higuain, Napoli got in ahead of us. I think the club saw some doors shut and then when they saw the opportunity to get Mesut, it was a chance to make a statement.’

As for missing out on Suarez, the Spaniard said: ‘I think he’s incredible. I would have loved it if he had come. But Giroud is playing with a lot of confidence. He’s started well, scored a lot of goals and is fundamental for us now.’

The one that got away: Cazorla would have loved to see Luis Suarez become an Arsenal team-mate

And so the big question: can Arsenal win the league? ‘We know the second we drop our intensity we’re going to lose points,’ said Cazorla.

The defeat against Manchester United still hurts but there is consolation in the manner of defeat.

‘We could have sent out a message and opened up a gap but we said to each other after the game,

“Last year we lost here 2-1 but they rolled us over. This year it’s different. You look at the stats and you see two shots for them, two shots for us, corners six to five”.

‘Someone brought the newspaper in and
showed us that United had 39 per cent of the ball. It’s one of those
where you ask yourself, “Why did they beat us?” ’

Cazorla believes that defeat will not sidetrack Arsenal’s title charge because Wenger will not let it.

‘The manager is much more focused in terms of what the team needs,’ he said. ‘We know exactly what we have to do if we are going to keep this up all season.’

England midfielder Jack Wilshere will be fit for the clash with the Saints after recovering from a painful knock sustained against Germany on Tuesday.

The Arsenal midfielder took a heavy kick to his calf during the 1-0 defeat by Joachim Low’s side but trained yesterday and will be available. Wenger has confirmed Theo Walcott will also be back in the squad tomorrow, as Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday.

The winger has spent two months out with a stomach problem.

All OK: Wilshere will be fit for Arsenal's game against Southampton after recovering from a kick to the calf during England's 1-0 defeat to Germany at Wembley on Tuesday